Based on extensive research undertaken by the European Cement Research Academy (ECRA),
 oxyfuel technology will now be implemented in two cement plants in Europe.

"The technical feasibility of oxyfuel technology can only be proven in real-scale application, but we have sufficient information from our research to believe that we will obtain a positive result after the trials," said Daniel Gauthier, chairman of ECRA.

Over the past few months ECRA has examined the suitability of sites that could be potential locations for oxyfuel kilns. From the five sites which were examined in depth, two were identified as the most suitable to host the project from a technical standpoint: the Colleferro plant of HeidelbergCement in Italy and the Retznei plant of LafargeHolcim in Austria.